Why You Shouldn't Mess With Brando's Estate

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These days, Marlon Brando's name pops up in the news more often than in the last, reclusive years of the actor's life. While Brando died in 2004, his estate has vigorously and litigiously sought to protect his image. The latest target is Madonna, who uses Brando's imagein concert performances of her song "Vogue" — alongside images of other deceased celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

CMG Worldwide cleared the rights with the celebrity estates, agreeing to pay each estate $5,000. According to CMG, it had come to the same agreement with Brando's estate, only to see the estate's representatives demand $20,000. And because of contractual agreements, were CMG to pay $20,000 to one artist's estate, it would have to pay the same to every other one — so CMG sued Brando's estate. And the estate fired back with its own lawsuit against Madonna, seeking $1 million for each willful use of Brando's image. The terms of the settlement haven't been disclosed. As for punitive damages, perhaps Madonna's reps will be forced to sit through a screening of the Island of Dr. Moreau. But this is just the latest in a string of legal battles Brando's estate has had to fight in the last decade.

In 2011, Brando's estate sued Harley-Davidson Motor Company over "The Brando," a line of boots that resembled those that Brando wore in his 1953 biker-gang flic, The Wild One. Harley-Davidson paid an undisclosed sum in a settlement. That same year, the estate also sued a Florida furniture company for it's unauthorized "Brando" line. ("He coulda been a credenza," was how The Daily reported the story, winking to On the Waterfront.) The furniture company forked over $356,000 in a settlement.

The estate is also involved in legal battles with would-be contenders, including the ex-wife of Brando's son Christopher, who died in 2008. She has fruitlessly sought to be included in the estate, alleging that a codicil to Brando's will had been forged. But California courts ruled that she had no standing to make the challenge.

In 2009, The New York Times reported that 26 legal cases involving Brando's estate had been opened since late 2003. At the time of his death, the estate was valued at $21.6 million.